The functioning of the modern economy is provided by the millions of people employed in it. They have their own economic and social interests, which may conflict with the interests of other members of society.
What is this
Trade union organizations unite employees on the basis of industry or profession in order to protect their economic rights. Since workers operate in a constantly changing economic, technological and social landscape, their legal position is constantly under pressure. Economic crises threaten to reduce wages. Social changes lead to job cuts. Without working together to protect and strengthen their rights, the wage worker risks being the most vulnerable participant in economic relations.
History of Creation
The tradition of creating alliances forThe production principle has its roots in the days of feudalism. Guild associations can be seen as the forerunner of trade unions. Despite the fundamental difference, these forms solved similar problems. The first trade union organizations created to protect the rights of employees were founded in the 19th century in England. This country was undergoing an industrial revolution, which led to the emergence of a significant stratum of the industrial proletariat in British society. At the same time, relations with the growing social environment continued to be based on archaic, semi-feudal attitudes, which inevitably led to social conflict. Trade union organizations, called trade unions in England, contributed to the search for a compromise between wage workers and employers, allowing problems to be solved without social upheavals.
Trade unions in Russia
With the development of industrial production in the Russian Empire, trade union organizations also began to be created. For example, the railroad workers' union, called VIKZHEL, had significant political weight and powerful economic leverage to protect the rights of railroad workers. Pre-revolutionary trade unions closely cooperated with political parties of the socialist persuasion and were a serious political force. In Soviet times, trade unions were completely controlled by the state. At all enterprises, there were primary trade union organizations that were part of the all-union association - the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions. During this period, trade unions practically lost not only political significance, but alsoother functions, turning into distributors of social assistance from the state.
Modern trade union organizations
With the demise of the USSR, the era of Soviet trade unions also ended. The fall in production, hyperinflation, and mass unemployment led to a significant lumpenization of the industrial proletariat and made hired workers extremely dependent on employers. The restoration of the trade union movement began at the turn of the millennium, along with a change in the economic course of Russia. Today, there are several large trade unions operating in the Russian Federation, which unite workers from various sectors of the economy. The largest structure today is the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia, uniting thirty-seven million workers. Despite its scale, the FNPR is not a monopolist in the trade union movement, which is represented by several other large associations. Trade unions in Russia, in addition to their daily activities to ensure the rights of workers, were marked by several strikes that seriously affected the negotiating positions of employers.
Primary trade union organizations
The trade unions are based on primary organizations in industries and institutions. It is they who carry out the main work to protect the rights of their members, organize a dialogue with the administration and authorities. Their tasks include the conclusion of collective agreements with the management of enterprises in whichthe rights and obligations of the signatory parties, mechanisms of interaction and resolution of conflict situations are regulated and determined. Primary trade union organizations also monitor how the administration ensures safety at work, compliance with sanitary standards.
Meaning of unions
In addition to the direct protection of the interests of workers, trade unions perform the most important function of a side of social dialogue. Having a hierarchical structure of representation, the primary structures unite into district trade union organizations, which are part of larger ones. For example, trade union organizations in Moscow are able to act as a serious party to negotiations not only at the city, but also at the federal level. Trade unions actively participate in the development and adjustment of labor legislation. They raise questions regarding the regulation of the labor market. Actively participate in the formation of the social policy of the country. The effectiveness of the activities of trade unions is directly related to lowering the level of social tension in the state, with the adaptation of workers to the changed conditions of the economy. A democratic society relies not only on political parties, but also on social structures, which include trade union organizations. The reports of sociologists who study social processes show that, despite a certain infantility and weakness, trade unions are quite successfully coping with their tasks.
